Getting your first tattoo can be a daunting and intimidating experience, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right preparation, you can make sure that your first tattoo experience is a positive one. Taking the time to research the different types of tattoos available and finding a reputable artist, are important steps to take in preparing for your first tattoo. It is also important to consider how your tattoo will look as you age, and to think about tattoo etiquette. With a little bit of preparation and research, you can be sure your first tattoo experience will be a great one.
Let the artist advice you about the design
Many tattooists are true artists, wishing to adorn you with their own work. Their choice of style isn’t just a whim; tattooers generally specialize in certain techniques, and will be able to produce the best results when working in them. They want to be sure that you, the client, will be satisfied with the end result, and this is not achievable if you try to control the design process or ask them to imitate someone elses work.
- Refrain from sending an image of someone else’s work to a tattoo artist.
- Do not be shocked if the artist is not interested in taking on a style that is not their own.
- It is important to show them reference images of the subject matter you fancy.
- Provide reference images from the artist’s portfolio.
Cover ups
Generally, tattoo artists prefer not to work on another person’s tattoo due to the limitations it puts on their creative expression. This could mean destroying a great design or having their own artwork be seen alongside a bad one. As a result, the artist won’t be able to showcase their best work. It’s important to consider if you really want your current tattoo to become a patchwork of different styles or if you can provide new skin to the artist.
Don’t bring friends
When customers have companions to “assist” them with design choices, it can be incredibly difficult. After all, it was the artist they hired to offer assistance. When additional views are added, it can make the relationship between the artist and the customer more complex. The more feedback that is taken into account, the more arduous and perplexing the process will become. Ultimately, it is only the customer who truly understands what they desire and the artist is there to aid them.
- Do not bring someone else with you to give their opinion on your design.
- Avoid sending pictures of your tattoo design to your friends to get their feedback.
- Make sure to tell your opinionated friends to be silent if they start to interfere with your tattoo artist.
Don’t talk to much while getting tattooed
Even the most highly skilled tattooers require to concentrate while they are tattooing. The work demands a great deal of focus. Some artists may enjoy chatting while they are tattooing, while others prefer a more tranquil atmosphere. Let the tattooer guide the conversation, or inquire as to what they desire.
- Make sure to bring something to occupy yourself with, like some music, if you are able to do so without having to move around.
- Let your tattoo artist determine whether they would like to converse or not.
- Avoid fixating your gaze on the tattoo while they are creating it as this could be stressful.
- Don’t chat too much unless your artist is the talkative type.
- Sit still and don’t move unexpectedly
Touch-ups
Lasting many years in many cases, tattoos sometimes require touch ups. This can be a result of the artist’s method of tattooing, but also due to proper care after the procedure, biological factors, and the body area being tattooed (wrists, elbows, fingers, etc. have a higher chance of the ink fading or losing intensity quicker). Usually, tattoo artists will perform a touch up at no cost if the tattoo is not a consequence of the customer’s aftercare. Therefore, it is important to ask the artist about touch ups.
- Give yourself a month before you even ponder about a touch-up. Tattoos may seem unappealing during the healing period, so it’s best to wait for a couple of weks for a complete recovery.
- Take proper care of your new body art, following the instructions of your artist and abstain from exposing the tattoo to direct sunlight, rubbing, or submerging it in water while it’s healing.
- Don’t anticipate the tattoo to be as bright as when it was freshly done; the ink is embedded underneath the top layer of skin, so once it’s healed, you’ll be seeing it through the epidermis.
- Don’t be hostile to your artist if you have any doubts about the tattoo. Your artist is just as keen as you are for the tattoo to look perfect, so there’s no need to take a stern approach if you have issues with it.
